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The Truth Prince album
NPG Records
albumI thought I had emptied the gun with Emancipation and I wouldn’t have to record for a while, but some new things came up that are all acoustic.
Fans had long been hopeful Prince would release an acoustic album. In response to that wish, The Truth was recorded between December 1996 and March 1997 at Paisley Park Studios and was intended for release through EMI-Capitol later in 1997 as a standalone album.
Due to EMI folding that year, it was immediately decided for The Truth to receive a limited commercial release, but as those plans too were abandoned The Truth was instead bundled as a companion CD with the Crystal Ball triple disc set, released in January 1998 and distributed under Prince’s own label NPG Records. The Truth is considered the highlight of the set, and like Crystal Ball it is credited to and released as Prince under the name of The Artist Formally Known As Prince (Prince Love Symbol).
Prince began recording the album on 1 December, laying down the title track – his first studio work since the tragic death of his and Mayte’s newborn son Amiir Nelson that October. The Truth is a highly introspective album in result. The title track became also its only single and was issued on CD along with the B-side Don’t Play Me also captured live in the same 1 December session. The single was released on Valentine’s day 1997 and obtainable only by mail order from 1800newfunk.com. It, as well as the album, were ineligible for the charts.
Comeback followed as the third song laid down for The Truth, also in December 1996. It is one of the most personal tracks written by Prince and grieves the passing of his son. This same track would also be played at Prince’s own funeral on 23 April 2016.
Prince performed Don’t Play Me at the Webby Awards on 12 June 2006, which he received the Lifetime Achievement award in recognition for technical achievement with his pioneering NPG Music Club pushing the envelope of digital music distribution. Being a Prince album, this acoustic LP also features musical embellishment, and neither is The Truth a solo effort. Bassist Rhonda Smith shares writing contribution for 3rd Eye (this would resurface in 2013 as the name of Prince’s backing band 3rdEyeGirl). Smith also co-wrote and plays bass on Man In A Uniform and Animal Kingdom.
Hip-hop singer Dionne Farris, former frontwoman for Arrested Development, is the subject of the track Dionne. Having met Prince in 1995 in Los Angeles after a concert she gave at The Roxy, Prince made instant connection with Dionne and later revealed that her music had helped him though this dark chapter in his life. He subsequently mailed Farris a copy of Dionne and even alludes to doing so in the lyrics of One Of Your Tears: “Did U get the tape Eye sent U, Eye thought it be better in a song.”
Cover story
Although when released The Truth was issued no accompanying artwork when packaged in Crystal Ball, the image intended for the earlier EMI release shows Prince wearing a pinstripe suit in a candid shot taken by his personal photographer and designer Steve Parke. When sitting for this photo, Prince also treated Parke to a private 15 minute acoustic set.
2021 and 2023 reissues
The Truth was reissued by Sony Legacy on 12 June 2021 as a special Record Store Day vinyl LP release in a limited run of 13,000 copies. It became the most sold record on the music marketplace Discogs of the year 2021, on 26 June causing it to chart in the Billboard 200 at number 64 and top the Billboard vinyl sales list. Prompted by complaints due to its limit circulation, Sony Legacy reissued the RSD vinyl as a full commercial release on 9 June 2023.
Performers
- Vocals / all Instr
- Prince Love Symbol
- Bass Guitar
- Rhonda Smith 3rd Eye, Animal Kingdom, Fascination and One Of Your Tears
- Guitar
- Mike Scott Fascination
- Programming
- Kirky Johnson Fascination and Circle Of Amour
- Percussion
- Kathy Dyson Fascination
Data
- Producer
- Prince Love Symbol
- Label
- NPG Records
- Distribution
- NPG Records
- Cover/Design
- Steve Parke
- Released
- 28 years ago on 29 January 1998
- Reissued
- 12 June 2021
- Running Time
- 43:25
- US Chart Peak
- 62
- US R&B Peak
- 59
- UK Chart Peak
- Did not chart
- Prince Album
- #21
- Orig. Format
-
Tracklist
- The Truth (3:34)
- Don't Play Me (2:47)
- Circle Of Amour (4:43)
- 3rd Eye (4:53) 1
- Dionne (3:13)
- Man In A Uniform (3:07) 1
- Animal Kingdom (4:00) 1
- The Other Side Of The Pillow (3:20)
- Fascination (4:55)
- One Of Your Tears (3:26)
- Comeback (1:59)
- Welcome 2 The Dawn (3:17)
Released as a single
1 Cowritten with Rhonda Smith.
Singles from The Truth
The Truth
NPG Records
- Released
- 14 February 1997
- US Chart Peak
- Ineligible
- UK Chart Peak
- Ineligible
- Cover/Art
- Steve Parke
- Format
-
- The Truth (3:32)
- Don't Play Me (2:50)
The Truth album review
Countless fans had been longing for Prince to make an acoustic album and off the back of the Emancipation recording sessions, in 1996 those wishes were answered. Prince obliged with The Truth, a 12 track acoustic album tacked to the back of Crystal Ball – the famous ‘hockey puck’ shaped set conveniently had five slots – maybe due to concerns it was unable to stand on its own feet in the commercial market. Even I admit it took 9 years for me to warm to The Truth, then all of a sudden struck like man’s discovery of fire, this Prince epiphany is now one of my personal favourite albums. Don’t Play Me is laced with real, heart-felt lyrics and enjoyed plenty of airing during the One Nite Alone Tour in 2002.
There is pure ballad on The Truth and despite it being a stripped down it is not exclusively acoustic and enjoys Prince’s trademark production flare. There are stand-out tracks aplenty; The Truth, 3rd Eye, Animal Kingdom, One Of Your Tears, Come Back and the great Welcome 2 The Dawn. The highlight is the busy Fascination. The Truth is a showcase of delightfully honest simplicity and an essential listen. Ain’t that The Truth!
The Truth is rated 4.5 out of 5 by Goldies Parade.
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